Apple’s New iPad 2017 Review: Going Back to the iPad’s Roots

A few weeks ago, Apple has introduced a new iPad that replaces the iPad Air 2 in the Cupertino-based giant’s tablet line-up. Read our full iPad 2017 review to know more about it.

Apple has released a simple and affordable tablet, which is a successor to the 4th generation iPad, released back in 2012. Instead of launching a successor to iPad Air 2, the company has decided to launch an affordable iPad in order to increase iPad sales. Apple’s new iPad is more affordable as it just starts at $329. Along with that, the iPad 2017 is available in gold, silver, and space gray colors with 32GB and 128GB versions. In this Apple iPad 2017 review, we’ll take you through all the new features to make the most out of it.

iPad 2017 Review: The Checklist

iPad 2017 Review – Design

Apple’s 9.7-inch iPad 2017 comes with a design reminiscent of the original iPad Air. It is slightly thicker and heavier than the iPad Air 2. The new iPad affects when you watch a movie for long hours or binge watch your favorite TV shows. It’s become tedious to hold the device for hours. And your wrists will become tired after a while.

The design of Apple’s new iPad is classic one – an aluminium back, 3.5mm jack, precision drilled holes for the speaker, microphone, and an all glass front. When it was first introduced with iPad Air 1 in 2013 this design looked premium. And it still looks premium after 4 years down the line.

On the front, there’s physical home button underneath the display with a responsive Touch ID fingerprint sensor. At the back, you’ll find a polished Apple logo in the center with the rear camera at the top-left and the iPad branding at the bottom. In addition, there’s a front camera and various sensors above the display.

The only downside is the lack of stereo speakers, especially a tablet which is almost perfect for multimedia consumption. The tiny sound becomes a bit irksome while you watch movies or TV shows on YouTube and Netflix.

iPad 2017 Review – Battery Life

The battery life of the iPad 2017 is great as you’d expect from an iPad. The company offers up to 10 hours of battery for watching videos, listening to music, and browsing the web on Wi-Fi. Apple says the new iPad has a 10-hour battery life while using Wi-Fi and 9 hours when browsing over a cellular connection.

iPad 2017 Review – Display

Apple’s new iPad 2017 has a 9.7-inch Retina IPS LCD display. The display is sharp, crisp, and vibrant with perfect colors, sufficient brightness levels, and great contrast. It’s one of the prime areas where Apple has cut costs.

Nowadays, the trend is to have displays with bright colors which look vibrant and pop off the screen. However, Apple continues to buck this trend with the release of iPad 2017. It has natural colors that do not look unrealistic.

Moreover, the 2017 iPad is the only product among the Apple’s current iPad lineup that doesn’t offer fully laminated display. It not only makes the display reflective but also makes it look dull.

iPad 2017 Review – Hardware and Performance

The next point we’re going to discuss in iPad 2017 review is hardware and performance. iPad 2017 is an odd mishmash of new hardware and recycled bits from old iPads. It comes with Apple A9 chip which is 1.6x faster in terms of CPU performance and 1.8x faster when it comes to graphics as compared to the Apple A8.

The 2017 iPad runs iOS 10 flawlessly and works perfectly while using iPad’s multitasking features. It supports the split-screen multitasking feature that is introduced with iOS 10. On the other hand, the iPad Air 2 does not contain this feature.

iPad 2017 Review – Cameras

Next highlight in our iPad 2017 review is its camera quality. There’s no difference between the cameras on the new iPad and on the iPad Air 2. The rear camera is 8MP and the front-facing FaceTime HD camera is 1.2MP.

The rear camera includes a five-element lens, Hybrid IR filter, and backside illumination. The new iPad supports Live Photos, a fun way to capture the moment with a few seconds of video complementing the still photo. When compared to the Pro line-up, it misses out a TrueTone flash, Focus Pixels, and a wide color photo aperture.

The rear camera has the ability to shoot video at 1080p but lacks 4K support. If you want to record videos in 4K on the tablet, you can go for the iPad Pro 9.7.

The 8MP sensor with an aperture of f/2.4 creates decent shots in well-lit situations but struggles in low light. The front camera is capable of capturing photos with natural colors but a bit hazy with a considerable amount of noise. Last but not least, the camera is also capable for basic video chatting. Overall, the camera quality of 2017 iPad is good enough to take casual snaps.

iPad 2017 Review – Verdict

iPad 2017 is a great tablet that comes with a nice and crisp Retina display, solid build quality, and superb battery life. It’s one of the few devices whose battery life surpasses manufacturer estimates.

The 2017 iPad comes in two variants with 32GB and 128GB versions. The 32GB Wi-Fi 32GB model retails for Rs. 28, 900 while 128GB Wi-Fi model for Rs. 36,900. The Wi-Fi +Cellular 32GB model retails for Rs. 39,900 and the Wi-Fi + Cellular 128GB for a substantial Rs. 47,900. Overall, Apple has succeeded in its aim to produce an affordable iPad that comes with all the essentials.

Ajitender Kaur is a professional writer with an undying passion for writing and has always worked towards achieving excellence in her work. She has done her masters in Electronics & Communication Engg. Being a gadget geek, Kaur has enhanced her knowledge in every latest technology, making her capable of writing accurate and knowledgeable articles. Kaur loves to hang out with friends and explore new places. She is an aspiring writer who believes that dreams never die and never let your dreams starve.